S.F. Library Closes Book On Boy's Idea / 11-year-old wanted to volunteer to read to younger children

Yumi Wilson, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published
4:00 am PDT, Wednesday, May 12, 1999

San Francisco, CA.
"Presido Libary", a branch of the SF Libary on Sacramento St. at Baker. 'John O'Connor' age 11 in front of the libary that said "no" to his idea of reading to younger kids once a week.
Photo by.........john O'Hara less

San Francisco, CA.
"Presido Libary", a branch of the SF Libary on Sacramento St. at Baker. 'John O'Connor' age 11 in front of the libary that said "no" to his idea of reading to younger kids once a week. ... more

Photo: John O'Hara

Photo: John O'Hara

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San Francisco, CA.
"Presido Libary", a branch of the SF Libary on Sacramento St. at Baker. 'John O'Connor' age 11 in front of the libary that said "no" to his idea of reading to younger kids once a week.
Photo by.........john O'Hara less

San Francisco, CA.
"Presido Libary", a branch of the SF Libary on Sacramento St. at Baker. 'John O'Connor' age 11 in front of the libary that said "no" to his idea of reading to younger kids once a week. ... more

Photo: John O'Hara

S.F. Library Closes Book On Boy's Idea / 11-year-old wanted to volunteer to read to younger children

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1999-05-12 04:00:00 PDT San Francisco -- Eleven-year-old John O'Connor thought he had the perfect solution for busy parents and overworked staffers at the Presidio branch of the San Francisco Public Library: donate a half-hour of his free time every week helping kids learn how to read.

John, an avid reader since age 6, planned to wear a jester's hat, fake spectacles and a black cape as the "Reading Wizard." He had already selected his first book, "The King's Giraffe." He even drafted flyers to invite neighborhood kids, ages 3 to 6, to the library on Wednesday afternoons.

"Instead of sitting in front of the TV all day, they could do something fun with reading," John said.

But instead of getting a big thank-you for his proposal, John, a sixth-grader at St. Vincent de Paul School, got the big kiss-off.

Library officials say they already have reading programs for preschoolers, which are run by librarians who have training on how to "present stories to various age groups."

The library says John is welcome to volunteer in

other ways. But he's waiting for someone to tell him that personally.

John's fight to become the Reading Wizard began two months ago when he phoned his local library to offer his time reading to younger children, an idea his mother had heard about from other parents.

Even before he finished his pitch, a staffer at the library flatly told him: "We don't do that kind of thing."

Thinking that the staffer misunderstood his request, John jumped on his Huffy 15-speed bike and headed two blocks down to the library on Sacramento Street to talk to someone in person.

He waited five minutes and said "excuse me" several times before a staffer asked him what he wanted. John again explained his idea. But the answer was the same as it was on the phone: No.

The brusque response was startling not only to the boy, but to his mother, Shannon Bracht.

BIG DREAMS FOR PROGRAM

John had visions of setting up reading sessions all over the city, Bracht said. "It would become the Reading Wizard organization," she said. "The city can't fund all these things. So whether it's entertaining children after school or helping them in some other way, we, as families, can help."

The library might have its reasons, but the boy is entitled to know what they are, she said.

"The response wasn't fair," said Bracht, an executive with Sharper Image in San Francisco. "Children are not treated with a lot of respect. He was crushed. She didn't even give him a reason."

A LETTER TO PLEAD HIS CASE

On May 1, John sent a letter to Sadako Kashiwagi, the children's librarian at the Presidio branch.

In the letter, John said he wanted to read to children because "I enjoy coming to the library. My mother and siblings do, too. Many other children will get the same experience if you let me read."

He urged Kashiwagi to call or write him back soon.

It's been a week and a half -- a long time for a kid -- since he's heard from anyone at the library.

"We haven't heard a thing," John's mom said. "As a working individual, it's very difficult to respond to everyone who sent you something. But at some point, I would hope there would be some communication."

REPLY IN THE WORKS

Kashiwagi, reached yesterday at the library, declined to comment, saying she plans to send a letter explaining why John can't read there.

"I've written a letter," Kashiwagi said. 'It's in the hands of (Toni) Bernardi, who will approve it before I send it out."

Bernardi, the chief of the library system's children and youth services, also is sending John a letter to express her regret that the boy feels his idea "was not given proper consideration," but also to back up the branch library's decision.

"It is wonderful that you have a love of reading and wish to share it with others," Bernardi wrote in a letter dated May 10.

However, she added, "All of the branch libraries provide story time for preschoolers. To do this, the librarians first select age-appropriate material, prepare an entire program for the event with related finger puppets, songs, rhythms and other activities to hold the interest of children."

OTHER WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

John has yet to receive the letter, a copy which was faxed to The Chronicle late Monday. But even after being told that the letter offered him a chance to volunteer in other ways, John said he was not giving up his idea to be the Reading Wizard.

"My mom really wants kids to help kids," John explained. "I can't think of any other way in the library to do that."

Supervisor Gavin Newsom suggested that allowances be made for the boy, who rode his bike to City Hall to enlist Newsom in his cause.

"I don't want to be obtuse about it, but I think there should be exception to allow people like John to participate at their local branches," Newsom said.